Plut strikes late to hand Gudja United win over Mosta

MOSTA           1         

Acheampong 50

GUDJA UNITED       2         

Gomes 14, Plut 78

MOSTA

I. Akpan-5.5, P. Mensah-5.5, R. Briffa-5.5 (68 G. Sciberras), C. Ememe-6, J. Nsumoh-6, T. Farrugia-6, J Akrong-5.5, G. Acheampong-6.5, J. Vassallo-5.5 (82 D Bonnici), Z. Brincat-5.5 (56 P. Tenebe), J. Ekani-5.5.

GUDJA UNITED

G. Zammit-6, J. Bolanos-6.5, A. Prates-6, V. Plut-6 (90=3’ F. Romero), A. Selemani-6, J. Arthur-6, N. Micallef-6, H. Vella-6 (73 L. Cremona), N. Tabone-6, S. Gomes-6.5 (84 J. Bezzina), M. Muchardi-6.5.

Referee: Emanuel Grech.

Yellow cards: R. Briffa, P. Mensah, N. Tabone, J. Vassallo.

BOV Player of the Match: Juan Bolanos (Gudja).

Gudja United earned their first three points of the season thanks to a. 2-1 win over Mosta.

Led by new coach Andrea Agostinelli, Gudja created the better chances throughout the first half, taking a narrow lead.

Mosta levelled matters early in the second half as they showed considerable improvement. However, Gudja regained the lead late in the game to secure victory.

Both sides had three new faces in their starting line-up.

Agostinelli awarded Andre Prates, Vito Plut and Samuel Gomes a starting berth for Gudja.

On the other hand, Joseph Grech, who could not count on the suspended Clayton Failla, handed Patrick Mensah and Jacob Akrong a start along with Johnson Nsumoh who returned with the club following a spell on loan with Birkirkara.

Another new signing, Precious Tenebe was included as a substitute.

Gudja held the initiative in the early stages and Ahinga Selemani went close, concluding a good run on the right with a low shot which was turned into a corner by Mosta goalkeeper Ini Akpan on eight minutes.

Three minutes later, a Matias Muchardi freekick ended just over the bar.

Mosta replied with a Nsumoh cross from the right but Roderick Briffa headed just wide.

On 14 minutes, Gudja forged ahead.

Selemani received the ball from a throw-in from the left and served Samuel Gomes da Mata who controlled before hitting low past Akpan.

Mosta failed to react and Gudja threatened once again with a powerful drive by James Arthur which was parried by the Mosta custodian on 40 minutes.

A minute later, an overhead kick by Christ Ememe for Mosta was neutralised by Glenn Zammit.

Five minutes in the second half, Mosta restored equilibrium when Zachary Brincat served Ememe on the edge of the area and the latter passed the ball to the unmarked Geoffrey Acheampong whose powerful drive from outside the area gave Zammit no chance.

Gudja went close with a Muchardi header after Akpan saved partially a free-kick from the right on 59 minutes.

However, 12 minutes from time, Gudja regained the lead. Samuel Gomes released Llywelyn Cremona on the right and the latter squared low for Vito Plut to slot the ball past Akpan.

In the dying minutes, Mosta went all out in search of the equaliser and although they went close with an Nsumoh free-kick on 88 minutes and an angled shot by Acheampong deep into stoppage time, Gudja held on to take home the three points.